Emilia Romagna

History

The first vine growers in the region date back to 6000 BC and they lived in the area near Belluria, on the basis of archaeological sources even though the first findings related to wine are much more recent and can be dated around 1700 BC. The first true vine growers were the Etruscans, who created huge expanses of vineyards in the area near Faenza. With the Middle Ages, this wine production became even more important. Over the years, it took on a key role in the region. The first DOC was in 1967 and the first DOCG in Italy was Albana di Romagna.

Territory

Emilia-Romagna is one of the most extended wine regions, counting about 60,000 hectares of vineyards. The regional area is approximately 50% flat, 25% hilly and 25% mountainous (it gets to exceed 2,000 meters above sea level in the Tuscan-Emilian Appenines). Even the climate is different from area to area. The rivers do not have a great significance for vine cultivation, while the sea, on the other hand, has a positive effect in Romagna. For these reasons, the distribution of the vineyards is approximately 75% in the plains, 20% in hilly zone and 5% in the mountains (between 400 and 600 meters above sea level). The weather, the soil, and the climatic conditions of the area give rise to the different wine regions.

Emilia

In the area of Piacenza, the most common varieties are the red grape: Barbera and Croatina characterize Gutturnio DOC and partly Bonarda. As white grape varieties, we find Malvasia di Candia aromatica, and Moscato Bianco, in addition to the indigenous grape Orturgo. Also widespread are international varieties such as Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc and Pinot Gris, Riesling and Müller-Thurgau. The Parma area is distinguished by the prevalence of white wines as opposed to red wines and is especially famous for its wines made with Malvasia di Candia Aromatica. The areas of Reggio-Emilia and Modena are dominated by the cultivation of Lambrusco in its numerous kinds. Lambrusco di Sorbara and Grasparossa are most common in the Modena area. In the Bologna area, the Montuni (also called Montù) and Pignoletto are widespread, both white grapes with the DOC Reno and DOCG Colli Bolognesi Classico Pignoletto. In the area of Ferrara there is the Fortana (red grape variety, also known as Uva d’Oro) and whose reference is the DOC Bosco Eliceo.

Romagna

Moving into Romagna, the most important grape here is the Sangiovese, Pagadebit and Albana, giving rise to DOCG Albana di Romagna (the first ever DOCG white wine of Italy), in the area of Faenza are also locally important white wines. The most important wine producing areas are the hills around Faenza (Colli di Faenza DOC), the hills of Forlì, Cesena and the hills around Rimini (Colli di Rimini DOC, Colli di Imola DOC). Throughout the region, the local vine growing systems of Belussi, alberata Emiliana, pergola Romagnola join the most widespread spur cordon and Guyot training systems.